by Amanda Noll, Howard McWilliam (Illustrator)
A unique monster-under-the-bed story with the perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this picture book relies on the power of humor over fear, appeals to a child’s love for creatures both alarming and absurd, and glorifies the scope of a child’s imagination. One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week." Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn't stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they've got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn't enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily.
Series: I Need My Monster
I Need My Monster
Howard McWilliam left his career as a financial journalist and editor in 2005 to concentrate on his growing illustration career. While the business theme endures in regular illustrations for Moneyweek and The Sunday Telegraph's Money section, he is perhaps best known as cover artist for The Week in the UK and US.